Infernal, Nightmare
Also known as: Hell Steed, Nightmare
Gaunt horses of the lower planes with glowing eyes and burning hooves
Basic Fantasy Field Guide Omnibus
| Armor Class | 24 |
|---|---|
| Hit Dice | 6+6* |
| Number Appearing | 1 |
| Attacks | 2 hooves (2d4+2), 1 bite (2d4), 1 breath (special) |
| Damage | 2d4+2 hoof, 2d4 bite, or special |
| Movement | 80' (10') Fly 160' (10') |
| Save As | Fighter: 6 |
| Morale | 9 |
| XP | 555 |
| Treasure Type | None |
Nightmares, also known as Hell Steeds, are the horses of the lower planes. Nightmares are gaunt beasts with eyes that glow fiercely red and orange, fire and smoke blowing from their nostrils, and hooves that burn like fiery coals. Nightmares are able to change sizes, from the size of a warhorse up to a giant form twice that size, but despite these changes their statistics (hit dice, attacks, and so on) are not affected. This ability allows them to serve as steeds for demons and devils of various sizes. Night hags (page 154) and sometimes greater undead such as vampires, spectres, and liches may use nightmares as steeds.
Special Abilities
Size Change: Nightmares are able to change sizes, from the size of a warhorse up to a giant form twice that size, but despite these changes their statistics (hit dice, attacks, and so on) are not affected. This ability allows them to serve as steeds for demons and devils of various sizes.
Smoke Breath: A nightmare exhales a cloud of smoke that both blinds and chokes any living creature within 10 feet unless a successful saving throw vs. Dragon Breath is made. Those affected by the smoke suffer a penalty of -2 on all attack rolls while within the smoke-filled area. Note that after moving to a new location, one full round must pass before the nightmare’s smoke cloud is fully formed in this new area; on the other hand, the smoke in its former location does not persist at all after the nightmare moves away.
Flight: Nightmares can fly naturally despite having no wings, but they do so by apparently running in the air; they can ascend and descend at up to a 45-degree angle at the given movement rate, and cannot dive or perform other maneuvers as normal winged fliers do.